November 05, 2010

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Back in 2007, msnbc.com — a separate company from the TV network of the same name — did a large investigative report into journalists’ political giving that highlighted $4,200 in donation from Joe Scarborough to a Republican House candidate. They got a comment from the network at the time.

Joe Scarborough, host of the "Morning Joe" talk show and the evening newscast "Scarborough Country," $4,200 in March 2006 to Derrick Kitts, Republican candidate for the House from Oregon. ... A spokesperson for NBC, Jeremy Gaines, replied to questions sent to Scarborough. "Yes, he did make a donation to Derrick Kitts. Kitts is an old friend of Joe's. Joe hosts an opinion program and is not a news reporter."

Jed Lewison at Daily Kos highlights this section to argue that MSNBC has a double standard in its approach to its opinion hosts.

The bottom line here that both Keith Olbermann and Joe Scarborough both host opinion shows. They both made personal contributions to political candidates. But Olbermann supports Democrats, and Scarborough supports Republicans, so even though Olbermann is the network's top-rated host, and even though Scarborough hides his ratings sheet in a little box in the basement, it's Olbermann that gets silenced.

Greg Sargent argues that the episode is “clear proof that MSNBC brass is extremely sensitive to claims that the network is evolving into the Fox News of the left.”

Scarborough is also a columnist for POLITICO.

UPDATE: An MSNBC spokesman responds to questions about Scarborough's 2006 donation: "That contribution was made in accordance with the policy. Joe sought permission in advance. Since 2007 we have recommitted ourselves to following these important standards."

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Fox Fraudcasting would never suspend any of their hosts for donating to republicans, they actually encourage their hosts and employees to participate in tea party events. And then you have the owners of Faux News contributing millions of dollars to the republicans. MSNBC is stupid to suspend Keith and they are going to be sorry that they did that.

Greg Sargent is totally off base -- MSNBC is not evolving into the Fox News of the left. All one need do is witness the election night coverage from both Fox and MSNBC. Fox had actual news people anchoring their coverage, respectively interviewing people from both sides. MSNBC had 5 Opinion show hosts anchoring their "coverage", and rabidly attacked any R willing to show up on their "network". That Matthews-Bachmann interview is the strangest election-night interview in TV history...

MSNBC wants it both ways but when you hire over the top personalities its impossible to hold the straight news line. Some of you reporters should point out that two other MSNBC tv people getting suspended for "nbc rules" being broken. So he's off a week or two and everyone moves on and Keith can stop claiming he isn't far left.

Here's an angle to consider. Comcast is taking over NBCU sometime next year and MSNBC is in for rebranding, Comcast doesn't want to take on Fox.
Now what happen to KO today with his suspension could some Comcast execs made the call? Think about it. Afterall if NBC News has rules that aren't clear on this issue then one might see an oppertunity to fire Keith right off the bat. Just an corporate angle to consider to ponder on. I've read in a few news media blogs that Comcast wants to rebrand MSNBC. Now could Chris Matthews be next for his statements to Michele Bachman? That too has come underfire this week.

Political contributions, MSNBC employees (per FEC records): 28 to Democrats, 0 to Republicans.
MSNBC and NBC have a standard. And the standard is--all Democrat, all the time, but don't be too obvious about it.

Instant correx: MSNBC contributions are be 29-2 Democrat.
What Keach Hagey doesn't tell readers: among the political contributors at MSNBC is Leftist commentator Bill Press. If Scarborough should be suspended, so should Press.
Keach, try telling the whole truth! For once!